The Bill Lane Center for the American West and Roots of Change are proud to announce the launch of journalist and photographer Lisa Hamilton's innovative multimedia project "Real Rural" — bringing California's rural life to the state's urban public. Photojournalism — portraits of people and places — are at the center of the project, which also includes short, poignant and insightful interviews. The portraits, along with surprising, provocative quotes from the subjects, will be featured on BART trains throughout the Bay Area beginning in late January, and on an interactive web site. We are also working to put these messages on billboards in Sacramento and public transportation in Los Angeles. Please join us to see a preview of the project and meet Lisa Hamilton and hear her talk about the project at a party at the California Historical Society, which will exhibit the project in 2012.